Proverbs 1:8-33 - Two Calls

Proverbs Sermon: 1. Intro & Background V1, The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 1.1. Solomon the wise man’s story 1.2. Reign of Solomon foreshadows the reign of Christ at the end of history 1.3. David deliverance from Goliath/enemies/sin 1.4. Wisdom definition: 1.4.1. a.) understanding and living in keeping with the divine order that is sewn into the fabric of the world. 1.4.2. b.) the skill to live well (to survive and thrive, ants, coneys, lizards) 1.4.3. 24Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: 25the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; 26the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; 27the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; 28the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces. 2. Preamble (vv 2-7) and Prologue (ch’s 1-9) 2.1. Intro, Purpose, Theme 2.2. V2, Know and Understand To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 2.2.1. Know Wisdom and instruction (instruction what to do, wisdom skill to apply it) 2.2.2. Understand (not just to know it, not just to do it, but to understand it – to possess it within) 2.2.3. Expanded in following 4 verses 2.3. V3, Expands the student’s perspective to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 2.3.1. to receive: to grasp, to take hold of, a willing action, not passive, willingly accept and reach for and take hold of. 2.3.2. Receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity 2.3.2.1. Wise dealing – how to handle your business (old black coach definition of a man) 2.3.2.2. Handle it in righteousness, justice, and equity 2.3.2.2.1. Righteousness – personal 2.3.2.2.2. Justice & Equity – corporate righteousness, love your neighbor. 2.4. V4, Expands the teacher’s perspective to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 2.4.1. Prudence – discretion, discernment, careful consideration, depth 2.4.2. Simple – (naïve, inexperienced, young, not a fool/hardened) (fool and scoffer) 2.4.2.1. Simple teacher illustration: There’s a cure for ignorance, but foolish is forever. 2.4.2.2. Knowledge and discretion to the youth (it’s especially for young people) 2.4.2.2.1. Repeating yourself (boring vs stick) – makes it stick 2.4.3. Wisdom is a cycle – V3 and V4 together – to receive and to give 2.5. V5, Parentheses (notice only verse to start differently, so he’s leaning in to tell us) Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 2.5.1. Wisdom is a spiral – growing or shrinking, can’t stay where you are. The wise become more wise. The foolish become bigger fools. If you are wise, you want to be wiser. 2.5.2. Teachability – the great virtue this book seeks to instill; no matter how far along you “think” you are; that’s real wisdom is to know how far you still have to go 2.5.3. Coachable Illustration: Give me a guy who wants to learn over somebody who thinks he already knows everything all day. Combo: Talent and Diligence. 2.6. V6, again understanding is the focus, not just knowing (like V2 & V5) to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 2.6.1. Riddles: It is not fully comprehended all at once, in the first hearing, the first moment, but must be stored in the mind and heart coming to its full understanding as we discover its connections throughout life. 2.6.2. parables of Christ – the greatest wisdom teacher, the true wise man. 2.7. V7, The THEME of the entire book. (Inclusion – end of ch 9, end of prologue, found in many other places) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. 2.7.1.1. Fear is good? Everything in man is from God and can be used for His glory (courage, love, anger, hate, ambition, fear) 2.7.1.2. Fear is exalted to highest position – the sum of religion: fear God. Prov 31, all this great character, summed up in The Woman who fears the lord is to be praised. 2.7.1.3. Fear is rational – Confidence T-shirt: the feeling you have before you fully understand the situation. God’s holiness and our sinfulness. Isaiah. 2.7.1.3.1. Understand our poverty – the poor in Spirit will see God. 2.7.1.3.2. You won’t ever understand grace and love until you understand sin and fear. 2.7.1.4. Fear of God is the beginning of knowledge. Without God, knowledge is weird. 2.7.1.4.1.1. What is it? No such thing – it assumes itself, assumes intelligibility – will 2+2=4 tomorrow? Why? 2.7.1.4.1.2. Thought is the same thing as shaking up a soda can and speech is nothing more than it spewing out. 2.7.1.5. If you fear God, you will fear nothing else. Fear of man is an epidemic, fear of God is the cure (Driscoll). 2.7.1.6. Know how to make a simpleton or fool give in to temptation? – “I won’t like you anymore” 2.7.2. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 2.7.2.1. It’s not a head problem, not that wisdom isn’t available, it’s that it’s despised. (Rom 1, religious leaders in Jesus’ day, Solomon himself) 2.7.2.2. Thus the dichotomy is set. The teams are squared off against one another. And, this battle will rage throughout the book and throughout history and throughout our lives. 3. The Call of the Gang/World/Sin/Folly 3.1. V8-9, The primary source of Wisdom = parents/family/spiritual parents [8] Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, [9] for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. 3.1.1. Hear and forsake (2 dangers, not hearing while you’re there, forsaking when you’re gone) 3.1.2. Father and mother (though His grace is enough) 3.1.3. Emphasizes a blessing for honor of parents (physical parents vs spiritual parents) 3.1.4. Wisdom makes you beautiful, not just smart. You can be smart and ugly and push people away from God, or you can be wise and kind/gentle and draw people closer. 3.2. V10, there is something enticing about sin. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 3.2.1. Psalm 1: [1] Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. (like a tree planted by living waters) 3.2.2. V11-14 The Call of the Gang/World [11] If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; [12] like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; [13] we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; [14] throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— 3.2.2.1. Don’t think this doesn’t apply to you. Understand your depravity. No consequences, then what? (Holocaust, Rwanda, Cheating, etc.). Won’t do good. Will do bad. Hollow/Invisible man. 10% - 80% - 10% - 10% will die for Jesus. 10% are wolves, other 80% are on the fence – trials will prove it one way or another 3.2.2.2. James 2: 1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 3.2.2.3. V13 – self focus, Satan leads you away by your own evil desires. 3.2.2.3.1. Erin Jones’ dating a non-christian – killing/threatening herself and her children; 3.2.2.4. V14 – make you feel like you’re a part of something bigger, and you are, something evil. 3.2.2.5. People do what they truly want. What do you want most? You will do whatever it takes to get it. What can break the hold of a beautiful object? An even more beautiful object. The world will call you, Satan will call you like the pied piper and his music will be whatever it is that you really want. Covetousness – idolatry – adultery (breaking covenant with spouse/God). 3.2.2.6. Will you hear the more beautiful tune of God? Will you recognize its lyrics that show you that He is only true satisfaction for your soul. 3.2.3. V15-17 – stupid/fool! Do you think God doesn’t see you??? [15] my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, [16] for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. [17] For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, 3.2.3.1. Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 3.2.4. V18-19 – Idolatry! It will become your master and will make you an oppressed slave. It will turn on you and kill you. [18] but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. [19] Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. 3.2.4.1. Idols required human sacrifice (true). God required the sacrifice of Himself. 3.2.4.2. 2 Pet 2: [19] They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. (waterless springs) 4. The Call of Wisdom 4.1. V20-21 In Everything (even the noise, she cries) [20] Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; [21] at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 4.2. V22 The problem isn’t lack of opportunity to gain knowledge, it’s a problem of the heart. It’s love and delight in sinfulness. [22] “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 4.2.1. Rom 1: [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 4.2.2. Pride in self, not interested in learning or knowledge, just in his own opinion/preference, politics, football teams, how dare you say I’m wrong. 4.3. V23 If we will repent, the main point isn’t that we have a problem it’s the need to turn from the problem, the desire for something better, the need to repent. [23] If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 4.3.1. It’s about our response to this reproof. Repent and believe. We cannot make ourselves wise unto salvation, but God will pour out His spirit on us – his spirit of wisdom 4.3.2. The beginning is fear, the end is: not of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind 4.3.3. He will teach us Himself. He will make His words known to us. 5. V24-33 The seriousness of what’s at stake [24] Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, [25] because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, [27] when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. [28] Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. [29] Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, [30] would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, [31] therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. [32] For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; [33] but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” 5.1. Words to Israel (Ironically began with Solomon’s decline) – Don’t let this be the word to the Church. 5.2. You will get what’s coming to you, the natural consequence of your actions. You will reap what you sow. God is not mocked, you will reap what you sow (Gal 6:7) 5.3. It will happen. The world will humble you. That’s the comfort I have sometimes as a teacher of the arrogant students. 5.4. V33 – the death of the little 2-yr old boy of God-fearing parents. 6. Begin The Gospel: V 33. 6.1. We had a wisdom teacher to come. (Mat 21:33, parable of the tenants, send servants and his son) 6.2. He is to whom we must listen to begin any sort of wisdom, any sort of understanding, any sort of life. 6.3. Christ is Wisdom calling out. 6.4. Back to vs 7, YHWH, not just generic God 6.4.1. Gospel “Yahweh” (ie Jesus, says Before Abraham was, “I AM”/YHWH), because without that heart change, there is no real wisdom, only the wisdom of the world. 6.4.1.1. The wisdom of the world is the wisdom of convenience and self-service. 6.4.1.2. We are the sinners. 6.5. He has poured out his spirit to us to make his words known to us, to cause us to turn at his reproof, to give us new hearts! We are melted by the Spirit speaking the word to us now, showing us the Gospel, that it is BETTER than anything we’ve been “fooling” ourselves with. (a child in the slums can’t imagine a holiday at the sea). 6.5.1. James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But, let him ask in faith… Proverbs 1:7-33 ESV – Christ Centric 1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: One Greater than Solomon is here. 2 To know wisdom and instruction,     to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,     in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple,     knowledge and discretion to the youth— He received and gave (interesting discussion about Jesus’ perfection – potential and realized. Unproven vs proven – Did jesus ever drop his plate (only once), Could they give him a bath? Did he already know everything? 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,     and the one who understands obtain guidance, He was the wisest and became the wisest and did not forsake it. The true King of kings. 6 to understand a proverb and a saying,     the words of the wise and their riddles. Wisdom is a person. How do we understand the wise man – know Him, walk with him, love Him. The things he said, many of his parables were in riddles, so that not everyone would understand them. It wasn’t just some detached concepts, it was bound up in relationship, faith, and new birth. So much of what he said, so much of Scripture itself only comes together, only makes full sense in light of the cross and resurrection. The disciples got it later. Think of the advice you heard before and thought how dumb it was until later and you thought, “Oh, I get it now.” [7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Because of Jesus, we don’t have to run in our fear, our fear doesn’t destroy us, we are able to tremble at his feet and see his mercy – and that makes our fear a joyful fear, a trembling of joy, tears of gratitude and relief – not to lessen our intensity but to increase it. So, that we are obedient from the heart. Parental Instruction vs The Enticement of Sinners [8] Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, [9] for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. [10] My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. [11] If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; [12] like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; [13] we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; [14] throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”— We were in that crowd that crucified Jesus; our feet were swift to shed his blood; we did not want to bow the knee to the Son of God, He threatened our sovereignty and our power to rule our own lives, and so we killed him. [15] my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, [16] for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. [17] For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, [18] but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. [19] Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. The Call of Wisdom [20] Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; [21] at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: [22] “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? [23] If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Seeing the Wisdom of God crucified on the cross, raised again to life in defeating sin and death and folly and foolishness forever, shaming the wise, revealing Himself to babes and the simpletons of the world, making foolish the wisdom of the wise; making weak the strong. [24] Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, [25] because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, [27] when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. [28] Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. We laughed at him, mocked him, yet he struck himself instead of us, put himself in the whirlwind, drank the cup of distress and anguish. He was not answered though he called out, he sought God but didn’t find him – he was forsaken, and we are forgiven. He provided the sacrifice of fools for fools, the life that is required of foolishness to its idols, the reaping of death from the seeds sown in folly, though we sowed it, he reaped it. He reaped what we sowed, that we may reap what he has sown. [29] Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, [30] would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, [31] therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. [32] For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; [33] but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” Will you turn to him now, that you may dwell secure, that you may take His easy yoke, and that your dread of disaster may be turned to the joy of salvation?! 7. See Christ reigning in our lives now, as we anticipate His reign at the consummation of the Kingdom. Through His wise rule in our lives, we are free, we are blessed, we are alive. He made Himself a fool that we fools might become wise. Just like Solomon, but the greater Solomon. 7.1. Matt 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. 7.2. Col 2: [2] that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.